UNIVERSITATIS MARIAE CURIE-SKŁODOWSKA LUBLIN – POLONIA
VOL. LXIII (2) SECTIO E 2008
1 Department of Agroecology, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 2/D3, 35-601 Rzeszów, e-mail: wolanski@univ.rzeszow.pl
2 Department of Botany, University of Rzeszów, Cegielniana 12, 35-959 Rzeszów
CZESŁAWA TRĄBA 1, PAWEŁ WOLAŃSKI1, KRZYSZTOF OKLEJEWICZ 2
Floristic diversity and sward use value
of Lolio-Cynosuretum association in the San river valley
Zróżnicowanie florystyczne i wartość użytkowa runi zespołu Lolio-Cynosuretumw dolinie Sanu
Summary. In the present paper the floristic composition, species richness and sward use value of
five subassociations distinguished within the Lolio-Cynosuretum association (typicum,
trifolieto-sum repentis, festucetotrifolieto-sum pratense, dactylidotrifolieto-sum glomeratae and anthoxanthotrifolieto-sum odoratae) are
studied depending on the selected ecological factors. Phytosociological releves, samples of soil and samples of sward were taken for analysis. Floristic diversity and use value of the Lolio-
-Cynosuretum pasture sward depended on habitat conditions, fertilizing and use intensity.
Key words: Lolio-Cynosuretum, fodder value scores (SVS), floristic diversity, San valley
INTRODUCTION
Lolio-Cynosuretum cristati pastures are widespread in Poland (especially in the
low-lands and hills) on mesic sites. They are most abundant in Wielkopolska region (up to 30% of all the permanent grassland), whereas in other regions they usually constitute only a few percent. This association has a broad ecological scale as far as climatic, ed-aphic, zoogenic and anthropogenic factors are concerned [Trąba and Grzegorczyk 2003]. Much research shows that preserving semi-natural pastures and meadows is of para-mount importance for the preservation of the biodiversity of agricultural systems [Loster 1991]. The aim of this work was to assess the floristic diversity and fodder value of
Lolio-Cynosuretum pastures, which occur on flood-plain soils in the San valley
(SE Poland), taking into account soil moisture, acidity and fertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In 2003–2004 sixty-one phytosociological releves were taken in Lolio-Cynosuretum pastures (each time on/from the area of 100 m2), using the Braun-Blanquet method.
Collective samples of soil and above-ground biomass were taken for analysis. In the soil, pH and accessible P, K and Mg content were measured. Soil moisture (F) and nitrogen content (N) were estimated using Ellenberg indicator values [Ellenberg et al. 1992]. Fodder value (FVS) were assessed on the basis of weighed floristic content using the Filipek [1973] approach. Subassociations of Lolio-Cynosuretum were identified using the PROFIT 2 computer programme package. For each of the distinguished communities the following indices were calculated: constancy degree and cover coefficient [Szafer 1977], number of Poaceae and Fabaceae, mean number of species per releve and Shan-non-Wiener diversity index - H' [Magurran 1996] according to the formula:
H' = -Σ pi · ln pi; pi = ni : N ni – the coverage coefficient of every species,
N – sum of the coverage coefficients of all species in a given subassociations.
The floristic table contains all species with at least II constancy degree in one of the identified subassociation. The species occurring sporadically are listed under the table. The information on fertilizing and use intensity was provided by the farmers/owners of the pastures.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Five subassociations of Lolio-Cynosuretum were identified in the study area: L.-C.
typicum, L.-C. trifolietosum repentis, L.-C. festucetosum pratense, L.-C. anthoxantho-sum odoratae and L.-C. dactylidoanthoxantho-sum glomeratae (tab. 1). Lolio-Cynosuretum dactylido-sum glomeratae and L.-C. festucetodactylido-sum pratense were found in pastures fertilised with
a small amount of NPK and managed as enclosures, with one hay-making per year. Other subassociations occurred in free-range cattle and horse pastures, where no fertili-sation except for remaining animal manure was used.
Lolio-Cynosuretum is well-developed in the San valley. In all the plots numerous
characteristic and differentiating species of the Cynosurion alliance occurred, especially
Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens (tab. 1). Lolio-Cynosuretum typicum differed from
other subassociations the most. It had the lowest fodder value and the highest floristic diversity expressed as the total number of species, mean number of species per releve and Shannon-Wiener (H) index (tab. 2). The L.-C. trifolietosum repentis subassociation had the highest Trifolium repens cover (from 30 to 60%). In this community Lolium perenne, Poa
pratensis and Taraxacum officinale were more abundant, and Festuca rubra less abundant
than in L.-C. typicum, whereas Agrostis capillaris, Achillea millefolium and Prunella
vulgaris had similar cover. It had a higher fodder value than L.-C. typicum (tab. 2). The high
cover of Trifolium repens is attributed to excess grazing, which causes the disappearance of taller grasses, replaced by Trifolium repens and low rosette-forming dicots, and impoverishes the floristic diversity of the community [Wilson 1994].
This work confirms this view. Lolio-Cynosuretum festucetosum pratense and L.-C.
dactylidosum glomeratae have a higher number and cover of Poaceae than the
previ-ously discussed communities. Tall grasses and Trifolium pratense are particularly abun-dant. Out of lower grasses, Festuca rubra is more frequent and Lolium perenne and Poa
Table 1. The constancy degree and cover coefficient of plant species in Lolio-Cynosuretum subassociations
Tabela 1. Stałość i współczynnik pokrycia gatunków roślin w podzespołach zespołu Lolio-Cynosuretum Subassociation Podzespół Typicum Trifolieto- sum repentis Festucetosum
pratense Dactylidosum glomeratae Anthoxanthosum odoratae
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ch.D.All. Cynosurion Trifolium repens Lolium perenne Cynosurus cristatus Bellis perennis Phleum pratense Leontodon autumnalis Veronica filiformis Veronica serpyllifolia Ranunculus sardous V1 IV IV IV IV II II II I 16792 1539 953 582 242 329 164 11 71 V V II III III II I - III 4917* 1923 150 87 128 160 33 - 493 V IV I III III II II - - 2068 800 50 109 89 214 323 - - V IV IV III III III II - - 1944 1117 789 79 27 128 111 - - V V V II III II - - - 1862 1167 1612 17 177 92 - - - Ch. O. Arrhenatheretalia Achillea millefolium Taraxacum officinale Carum carvi Bromus hordeaceus Dactylis glomerata Leucanthemum vulgare Trisetum flavescens Daucus carota Crepis biennis Heracleum sphondylium Trifolium dubium Galium mollugo Geranium pratense Arrhenatherum elatius Pastinaca sativa Campanula patula V V III III III II I II II II II I I I I I 1254 357 300 150 54 400 254 75 11 11 11 7 7 40 7 7 V V II II II I I I I - I I I - - - 1390 710 47 160 80 7 3 3 37 - 40 10 7 - - - IV V IV II IV III II II II II I I II II II I 805 595 155 350 155 736 209 14 100 18 45 9 95 18 14 45 V IV II I V - III III III II III II - III - I 628 428 67 5 1972* - 22 72 28 11 439 11 - 28 - 5 V IV - II III I - II III III III III - II - II 454 250 - 196 388 145 - 54 58 21 367 29 - 50 - 12 Sporadical species: Alchemilla monticola 2, 6; Knautia arvensis 2, 5, 6; Pimpinella major 2; Rhinanthus
serotinus 2, 3; Tragopogon pratensis 3, 4.
Ch. O. Trifolio fragiferae-Agrostietalia stoloniferae
Carex hirta Potentilla reptans Carex distans Rorippa sylvestris Rumex crispus Agrostis stolonifera Lysimachia nummularia II II II II II - I 114 50 43 11 11 - 7 II III - II II II I 127 117 - 13 15 337 3 I II - I II I I 50 173 - 5 14 5 5 II II - I II - II 11 306 - 5 17 - 11 I - - II II II II 8 - - 12 12 12 12 Sporadical species: Mentha longifolia 2, 3; Alopecurus geniculatus 3; Festuca arundinacea 3, 4; Juncus
compressus 3, 4; Juncus inflexus 3; Trifolium fragiferum 3.
Ch. O. Plantaginetalia majoris
Plantago major III 211 III 257 III 23 II 11 II 12
Poa annua II 132 II 263 I 2 I 5 - - Sporadically species: Juncus tenuis 2
Ch. Cl. Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Festuca rubra Poa pratensis Ranunculus acris Plantago lanceolata Trifolium pratense Cerastium holosteoides Prunella vulgaris Festuca pratensis Lotus corniculatus Ranunculus repens Potentilla anserina Centaurea jacea Leontodon hispidus Vicia cracca Poa trivialis Holcus lanatus V V V V V V IV IV IV III III III V V IV IV 1786 957 650 389 326 232 486 350 254 214 157 57 46 44 43 18 IV V IV III III IV III IV I IV IV I I I III I 853 1637 107 147 87 123 400 577 40 550 240 3 67 1 263 40 V V V III V IV II V II V II I I I III II 1891 755 855 105 659 77 100 2000* 55 400 255 9 5 50 150 69 V V IV IV IV IV II IV III III III II II - II II 2222 589 517 378 617 39 11 478 78 417 128 11 206 - 11 17 IV IV III IV V V III IIII III IV II II IV III II III 799 288 208 367 442 42 25 96 238 471 12 12 700 21 154 200
Table 1 continued – cd. tabeli 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rumex acetosa Alopecurus pratensis Deschampsia caespitosa IV II I 11 71 7 I II II 7 107 47 I III II 5 260 55 III - II 122 - 17 III I III 167 8 21 Sporadical species: Juncus conglomeratus 2, 3; Lathyrus pratensis 2, 3, 4, 5; Lychnis flos-cuculi 2, 3, 4;
Lythrum salicaria 2; Rhinanthus minor 2, 6; Trifolium hybridum 2, 4; Equisetum palustre 3, 4; Myosotis palustris 3; Angelica sylvestris 4; Agrostis gigantea 4; Lysimachia vulgaris 5, 6; Avenula pubescens 6
Ch. Cl. Nardo-Callunetea Luzula campestris Hieracium pilosella Veronica officinalis II - - 43 - - I - - 10 - - I - - 5 - - III - - 78 - - III II II 62 125 50 Sporadical species: Veronica officinalis 2; Hieracium umbellatum 6; Polygala vulgaris 6; Carex pilulufera 6. Ch. Cl. Artemisietea i Agropyretea Cirsium arvense Agropyron repens Glechoma hederacea Cirsium vulgare Equisetum arvense IV II II I I 254 79 46 7 7 II II II II I 193 223 217 130 7 II II III I II 59 95 64 5 59 III II I - II 178 61 11 - 17 II I I - III 12 8 4 - 58 Sporadical species: Arctium lappa 2, 3, 4; Armoracia rusticana 2, 3; Artemisia vulgaris 2, 6; Carduus
cri-spus 2, 3, 6; Cichorium intybus 2, 4, 5; Lamium album 2, 3; Rumex obtusifolius 2, 3; Solidago gigantea 2; Urtica dioica 2, 3; Convolvulus arvensis 2, 3, 6; Tanacetum vulgare 3, 5, 6; Carduus acanthoides 3, 4, 5; Anthri-scus sylvestris 4; Chaerophyllum aromaticum 4; Epilobium hirsutum 4; Linaria vulgaris 6.
Other Agrostis capillaris Veronica chamaedrys Medicago lupulina Stellaria graminea Plantago media Anthoxanthum odoratum Hypericum perforatum Vicia angustifolia Vicia sepium Carex pairae Origanum vulgare Medicago sativa Medicago x varia Pimpinella saxifraga Rumex acetosella Solidago virgaurea Vicia grandiflora IV IV III III II I - I - - - - - - I - I 793 164 175 21 18 39 - 3 - - - - - - 3 - 3 IV IV II II I I - - - I - - - - - - - 780 63 73 14 10 117 - - - 10 - - - - - - - II III III II I I - I - I - - - - - - I 14 23 391 14 5 91 - 5 - 5 - - - - - - 5 II IV IV III III III II II II II II II II I - I I 67 33 239 22 72 244 67 67 17 17 11 11 11 5 - 5 5 IV III I III - V III I I - I - - II II II II 1025 100 4 67 - 2417* 58 8 8 - 4 - - 17 12 12 12 Sporadical species: Aegopodium podagraria 2, 3, 5, 6; Briza media 2, 6; Capsella bursa-pastoris 2, 3, 4, 6;
Dianthus delthoides 2, 6; Erigeron annuus 2, 3, 5, 6; Euphorbia cyparissias 2, 3, 6; Galium verum 2, 5, 6; Hypochoeris radicata 2, 6; Medicago falcata 2, 5; Mentha arvensis 2; Ononis arvensis 2; Phalaris arundi-nacea 2; Ranunculus auricomus 2; Senecio jacobaea 2, 5, 6; Stachys sylvatica 2; Matricaria inodora 2, 3; Carex ovalis 2, 3, 4, 6; Carex gracilis 3; Eryngium planum 3; Euphorbia esula 3; Geranium dissectum 3; Helianthus tuberosus 3; Lolium multiflorum 3, 5; Polygonum amphibium 3, 4; Ranunculus flammula 3; Rorippa palustris 3, 4; Rumex confertus 3; Stellaria media 3, 5; Symphytum officinale 3, 4; Tussilago farfa-ra 3, 5; Veronica arvensis 3; Carex pallescens 4, 5, 6; Lathyrus tuberosus 4, 5; Polygonum hydropiper 4; Trifolium medium 5; Fragaria vesca 5; Centaurium erythraea 6; Myosotis arvensis 6; Thymus pulegioides 6; Vicia hirsuta 6; Vicia tetrasperma 6; Viscaria vulgaris 6; Rosa canina 6.
Explanations: 1 constancy degree, 2 cover coefficient, *differential species of subassociations
Wyjaśnienia: 1 stopień stałości, 2 współczynnik pokrycia, *gatunki wyróżniające się w podzespołach
pratensis less. in L.-C. festucetosum pratense, Ranunculus acris also had high cover.
Fodder value of these two taxa was nearly identical, and higher than for L.-C. typicum and L.-C. trifolietosum repentis (tab. 1). Lolio-Cynosuretum anthoxanthosum odoratae occurred mainly in higher elevations. It can be differentiated by the highest cover of
Anthoxanthum odoratum, Agrostis capilaris and Cynosurus cristatus. Out of dicots, Leontodon hispidus was more frequent than in other communities. The diversity index
H for L.-C. anthoxanthosum was similar to that of L.-C. dactylidosum glomeratae and
L.-C. festucetosum pratense, whereas its FVS was lower (tab. 2). In the whole 61 releve
Ar-temisietea and Agropyretea classes, including 21 sporadic species deserves attention. It
gives evidence that a less intensive use of the studied pastures has a positive influence on their floristic diversity [Kryszak 2004].
Table 2. Floristic diversity and fodder value of sward in Lolio-Cynosuretum subassociations in San valley
Tabela 2. Zróżnicowanie florystyczne i wartość użytkowa runi podzespołów zespołu
Lolio-Cynosuretum w dolinie Sanu
Subassociations
Podzespoły TypicumTrifolietosum repentis Festucetosum pratense Dactylidosum glomeratae Anthoxanthosum odoratae
Number of releves
Liczba zdjęć 14 15 11 9 12
Number of plant species
Liczba gatunków roślin 108 102 88 83 94
Percentage of grasses
Procent traw 17,6 19,6 21,6 20,5 20,2
Percentage of legumes
Procent strączkowych 11,1 7,8 12,5 16,9 11,7
Mean number in one releves
Średnia liczba w jednym zdjęciu
33,2 27,0 27,0 31,0 31,0
H 3,39 3,07 3,23 3,17 3,21
FVS 6,2 6,9 7,6 7,6 6,5
L.-C. dactylidosum glomeratae and L.-C. festucetosum pratense had the highest
pro-portion of grasses. The characteristic feature of the L.-C. dactylidosum glomeratae sub-association was the highest share of legumes in the flora, which, however, did not corre-spond with the surface coverage by those plants (tab. 2).
Table 3. Fertility and moisture of habitat of Lolio-Cynosuretum association in the San valley (mean sample value)
Tabela 3. Żyzność i uwilgotnienie siedlisk zespołu Lolio-Cynosuretum w dolinie Sanu (średnie z prób)
Ellenberg index value Wartość indeksu Ellenberga P K Mg Moisture Wilgotność Soil nitrogen Azot w glebie Syntaxonomic units of Lolio-Cynosuretum Syntaksonomiczne jednostki Lolio-Cynosuretum pH in KCl pH w KCl mg · kg-1 D.M. of soil mg · kg-1 s.m. gleby F N Typicum Trifolietum repentis Festucetosum pratense Dactylidosum glomeratae Anthoxanthosum odoratae 6,6 6,8 7,2 6,3 5,0 58 62 84 71 24 66 90 136 142 68 219 234 143 85 114 5,2 5,3 5,8 5,0 5,2 5,7 6,2 6,7 6,2 5,3
Lolio-Cynosuretum occurred in versatile habitat. L.-C. festucetosum pratense
occu-pied the soils, which were moistest and richest in phosphorus and nitrogen and with the highest pH. L.-C. anthoxanthosum odoratae occupied the least fertile and most acidic soils. L.-C. trifolietosum repentis occurred in most magnesium-rich soils.
Lolio-Cyno-suretum dactylidosum glomeratae occupied the driest sites, which were simultaneously
rich in potassium and poor in magnesium (tab. 3). Kryszak and Kryszak [2001] distin-guished as many as 12 subdivisons in the Lolio-Cynosuretum of the river valleys in Wielkopolska. Similarly as in the San valley, L.-C. typicum had the highest biodiversity and L.-C. dactylidosum glomeratae and L.-C. festucetosum pratense had the highest fodder value. The same subassociations had the lowest biodiversity in Wielkopolska as in the San valley.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Floristic diversity and fodder value of Lolio-Cynosuretrum depended on habitat conditions, application of fertiliser and intensity of use.
2. L.-C. typicum and L.-C. anthoxanthosum odoratae, occupying the most acidic and poor in P, K and N sites, revealed the highest floristic diversity.
3. The most humid, neutral and richest in nutrients soils were occupied by L.-C.
fes-tucetosum pretense, floristically poor, with sward being additionally sowed and
system-atically harvested.
4. L.-C. dactylidosum glomeratae subassociation was the highest share of Fabaceae in the flora, which, however, did not correspond to the surface coverage by those plants. A reverse situation was found for L.-C. trifolietum repentis.
5. The best fodder was provided by the L.-C. dactylidosum glomeratae and L.-C.
fes-tucetosum pratense pastures with a high share of valuable grass species. The lowest use
value was revealed by L.-C. anthoxanthosum odoratae pastures, extensively used and unfertilized except for the excrements of grazing animals.
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Trąba C., Grzegorczyk S., 2003. Występowanie Lolium perenne w runi trwałych użytków zielo-nych Polski. Łąkarstwo w Polsce 6, 165–178.
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Streszczenie. W niniejszej pracy porównano skład florystyczny, bogactwo gatunkowe oraz
war-tość użytkową runi 5 podzespołów wyróżnionych w obrębie pastwiskowego zespołu
Lolio-Cyno-suretum (typicum, trifolietosum repentis, festucetosum pratense, dactylidosum glomeratae i an-thoxanthosum odoratae) w zależności od niektórych czynników ekologicznych. Przedmiotem
analiz były zdjęcia fitosocjologiczne oraz próbki gleby i runi. Różnorodność florystyczna i wartość użytkowa runi zależały od warunków siedliskowych, nawożenia oraz intensywności użytkowania.
Słowa kluczowe: Lolio-Cynosuretum, wartość użytkowa, zróżnicowanie florystyczne, rzeka San
